AI
Thursday, March 22, 2012 7:58:48 PM
Defrocked priest pleads guilty in abuse case
By Sarah Hoye, CNN
updated 6:19 PM EDT, Thu March 22, 2012
Philadelphia (CNN) -- Defrocked priest Edward Avery of the Philadelphia archdiocese pleaded guilty today to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and conspiracy to endanger welfare of child, according to court documents.
Avery, 69, was sentenced to two-and-a-half to five years. He is scheduled to report for his sentence on April 2.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia would not comment on the plea citing a gag order imposed by a Philadelphia judge that remains in effect. It bars all parties involved in the criminal case from talking to the media.
A grand jury last year charged four Philadelphia priests and a parochial school teacher with raping and assaulting boys in their care. Avery, who was defrocked in 2006, and another priest, James Brennan, were accused of sexually abusing children between 1996 and 1999, and slated to go on trial with the Rev. William Lynn next week in what case experts have called one of the most sweeping sex abuse scandals in America. Lynn is accused of knowingly allowing dangerous priests access to children.
Lynn, who served as the secretary for clergy under Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the alleged assaults. Bevilacqua died on January 31.
CNN Senior Vatican Analyst John Allen said last year that the charges against the former church official appeared to be unprecedented and could have national implications.
"It sends a shot across the bow for bishops and other diocesan officials in other parts of the country, who have to wonder now if they've got criminal exposure, too."
It is unclear how Avery's plea will affect the upcoming trial scheduled to begin March 26.
Barbara Blaine, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests released a statement Thursday saying:
"We're grateful that Avery's victim won't have to endure a trial. We hope all of Avery's victims will feel comforted, knowing that kids will be safe from him for several years."
But she added that "a trial helps reveal often shocking levels of corruption by church officials -- information that the public and parishioners need and deserve to know. When clergy sex abuse and cover up cases settle before trial, embarrassing secrets about the Catholic hierarchy remain secret."
SNAP urged any other victims of Avery "to step forward and get help."
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/22/justice/pennsylvania-church-abuse-guilty-plea/ [with comment]
===
De-frocked priest pleads guilty ahead of Philadelphia pedophilia trial
Dave Warner
Reuters
4:44 p.m. CDT, March 22, 2012
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A defrocked priest accused of sex abuse in the pedophilia scandal that has rocked the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia pleaded guilty on Thursday, just days before he, another priest and a higher-ranking monsignor were due to go to trial.
Edward Avery, 69, admitted to sex abuse involving a 10-year-old boy and was promptly sentenced by Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina to two-and-a-half to five years in prison for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and criminal conspiracy to endanger the welfare of children.
Avery was one of three defendants in the high-profile case at the Archdiocese, the sixth largest in the nation with 1.5 million Catholics.
The trial is due to begin on Monday with Rev. James Brennan, who is charged with child sex abuse, and Monsignor William Lynn, the former secretary of the clergy for the Archdiocese, who is accused of child endangerment and conspiracy.
Lynn, who prosecutors say covered up the abuse, is the first U.S. church official to be charged and go to trial.
In a grand jury report in January 2011, Avery was accused of sex abuse involving a child at a parish in the Northeast section of Philadelphia in 1998 and 1999. Avery was defrocked in 2006.
Lynn, who was responsible within the Archdiocese for investigating sex abuse claims from 1992 to 2004, faces the possibility of 14 years in prison if convicted.
Defense lawyers and prosecutors are forbidden from commenting on the case due to a court-imposed gag order.
However, civil attorney Marci Hamilton, who represents six alleged victims in the case, said the guilty plea might be a signal that Avery might be prepared to testify against the others.
"You had to wonder if he was committing himself to being a martyr in the process," she said.
(Editing By Ellen Wulfhorst and Tim Gaynor)
Copyright © 2012, Reuters
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-crime-church-philadelphiabre82l18e-20120322,0,742630.story
===
Prosecutors Plan To Show ‘Diocese-Wide Policy’ In Priest Sex Abuse Case
Msgr. William Lynn, on his way into court with his attorney last April.
March 20, 2012
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/03/20/prosecutors-plan-to-show-diocese-wide-policy-in-priest-sex-abuse-case/ [with comments]
===
(linked in):
in particular, http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=61044144 and preceding and following
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=68018586 and preceding and following
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=73587758 and preceding and following
By Sarah Hoye, CNN
updated 6:19 PM EDT, Thu March 22, 2012
Philadelphia (CNN) -- Defrocked priest Edward Avery of the Philadelphia archdiocese pleaded guilty today to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and conspiracy to endanger welfare of child, according to court documents.
Avery, 69, was sentenced to two-and-a-half to five years. He is scheduled to report for his sentence on April 2.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia would not comment on the plea citing a gag order imposed by a Philadelphia judge that remains in effect. It bars all parties involved in the criminal case from talking to the media.
A grand jury last year charged four Philadelphia priests and a parochial school teacher with raping and assaulting boys in their care. Avery, who was defrocked in 2006, and another priest, James Brennan, were accused of sexually abusing children between 1996 and 1999, and slated to go on trial with the Rev. William Lynn next week in what case experts have called one of the most sweeping sex abuse scandals in America. Lynn is accused of knowingly allowing dangerous priests access to children.
Lynn, who served as the secretary for clergy under Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the alleged assaults. Bevilacqua died on January 31.
CNN Senior Vatican Analyst John Allen said last year that the charges against the former church official appeared to be unprecedented and could have national implications.
"It sends a shot across the bow for bishops and other diocesan officials in other parts of the country, who have to wonder now if they've got criminal exposure, too."
It is unclear how Avery's plea will affect the upcoming trial scheduled to begin March 26.
Barbara Blaine, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests released a statement Thursday saying:
"We're grateful that Avery's victim won't have to endure a trial. We hope all of Avery's victims will feel comforted, knowing that kids will be safe from him for several years."
But she added that "a trial helps reveal often shocking levels of corruption by church officials -- information that the public and parishioners need and deserve to know. When clergy sex abuse and cover up cases settle before trial, embarrassing secrets about the Catholic hierarchy remain secret."
SNAP urged any other victims of Avery "to step forward and get help."
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/22/justice/pennsylvania-church-abuse-guilty-plea/ [with comment]
===
De-frocked priest pleads guilty ahead of Philadelphia pedophilia trial
Dave Warner
Reuters
4:44 p.m. CDT, March 22, 2012
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A defrocked priest accused of sex abuse in the pedophilia scandal that has rocked the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia pleaded guilty on Thursday, just days before he, another priest and a higher-ranking monsignor were due to go to trial.
Edward Avery, 69, admitted to sex abuse involving a 10-year-old boy and was promptly sentenced by Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina to two-and-a-half to five years in prison for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and criminal conspiracy to endanger the welfare of children.
Avery was one of three defendants in the high-profile case at the Archdiocese, the sixth largest in the nation with 1.5 million Catholics.
The trial is due to begin on Monday with Rev. James Brennan, who is charged with child sex abuse, and Monsignor William Lynn, the former secretary of the clergy for the Archdiocese, who is accused of child endangerment and conspiracy.
Lynn, who prosecutors say covered up the abuse, is the first U.S. church official to be charged and go to trial.
In a grand jury report in January 2011, Avery was accused of sex abuse involving a child at a parish in the Northeast section of Philadelphia in 1998 and 1999. Avery was defrocked in 2006.
Lynn, who was responsible within the Archdiocese for investigating sex abuse claims from 1992 to 2004, faces the possibility of 14 years in prison if convicted.
Defense lawyers and prosecutors are forbidden from commenting on the case due to a court-imposed gag order.
However, civil attorney Marci Hamilton, who represents six alleged victims in the case, said the guilty plea might be a signal that Avery might be prepared to testify against the others.
"You had to wonder if he was committing himself to being a martyr in the process," she said.
(Editing By Ellen Wulfhorst and Tim Gaynor)
Copyright © 2012, Reuters
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-crime-church-philadelphiabre82l18e-20120322,0,742630.story
===
Prosecutors Plan To Show ‘Diocese-Wide Policy’ In Priest Sex Abuse Case
Msgr. William Lynn, on his way into court with his attorney last April.
March 20, 2012
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/03/20/prosecutors-plan-to-show-diocese-wide-policy-in-priest-sex-abuse-case/ [with comments]
===
(linked in):
in particular, http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=61044144 and preceding and following
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=68018586 and preceding and following
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=73587758 and preceding and following
Greensburg, KS - 5/4/07
"Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty."
from John Philpot Curran, Speech
upon the Right of Election, 1790
F6
Join the InvestorsHub Community
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
